Platability improver, molded article for plating, pellet composition for plating, plated molded object, and plating method

Abstract

The platability improver of the present invention comprises heterophasic-polymer particles having a coefficient of variation in particle diameter of 40%-90%. It is preferable that the proportion of polymer particles each having a particle diameter of 0.05 μm or larger be 80% by volume or more with respect to all the heterophasic-polymer particles and the proportion of polymer particles each having a particle diameter of 0.05 μm or larger but smaller than 0.15 μm be 10%-60% by volume with respect to all the heterophasic-polymer particles.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A platability improver comprising heterophasic polymer particles having a coefficient of variation of particle diameter of 40% to 90%. 
     
     
       2. The platability improver according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a content ratio of polymer particles having a particle diameter of 0.05 μm or larger in the heterophasic polymer particles is 80% by volume or more based on a whole of the heterophasic polymer particles, and 
 wherein a content ratio of polymer particles having a particle diameter of 0.05 μm or larger and smaller than 0.15 μm in the heterophasic polymer particles is in a range from 10% to 60% by volume based on the whole of the heterophasic polymer particles. 
 
     
     
       3. The platability improver according to  claim 1 , further comprising water. 
     
     
       4. A molded article for plating comprising the platability improver according to  claim 1  and a thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
       5. The molded article for plating according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein content ratios of the heterophasic polymer particles contained in the platability improver and the thermoplastic resin are, respectively, 10% to 80% by mass and 20% to 90% by mass based on 100% by mass of a total of the two. 
 
     
     
       6. A plated molded article comprising the molded article for plating according to  claim 4 , and a plating layer disposed on a surface of the molded article for plating. 
     
     
       7. A plating method that is a method for forming a plating layer on the molded article for plating according to  claim 4 ,
 the method comprising: etching the molded article for plating at a temperature in a range from 30° C. to 80° C.; and then forming the plating layer. 
 
     
     
       8. A pellet composition for plating comprising heterophasic polymer particles in the platability improver according to  claim 1 ,
 the pellet composition being for use in formation of a molded article for plating, 
 the pellet composition comprising pellets each comprising a matrix phase comprising a thermoplastic resin and the heterophasic polymer particles dispersed in the matrix phase, 
 a content ratio of pellets that pass through a 3-mesh screen is 98% by mass or more with respect to a total amount of the pellet composition, and 
 a content ratio of pellets that pass through a 5-mesh screen and do not pass through a 9-mesh screen is 50% by mass or more with respect to the total amount of the pellet composition. 
 
     
     
       9. The pellet composition for plating according to  claim 8 , wherein content ratios of the heterophasic polymer particles and the thermoplastic resin contained in the pellet are respectively 10% to 80% by mass and 20% to 90% by mass based on 100% by mass of a total of the two. 
     
     
       10. A method for producing a molded article for plating, comprising:
 melt-kneading the pellet composition for plating according to  claim 8 ; and 
 molding the melt-kneaded pellet composition for plating into a prescribed shape. 
 
     
     
       11. A molded article for plating, obtained by melt-kneading the pellet composition for plating according to  claim 8 , and then molding the melt-kneaded pellet composition for plating into a prescribed shape. 
     
     
       12. A method for producing a plated molded article, the method comprising:
 melt-kneading the pellet composition for plating according to  claim 8 ; 
 molding the melt-kneaded pellet composition for plating into a prescribed shape; 
 etching the resulting molded article for plating; and 
 plating. 
 
     
     
       13. A plated molded article comprising a resin molded part and a plating layer,
 wherein the plated molded article is obtained by melt-kneading the pellet composition for plating according to  claim 8 , molding the melt-kneaded pellet composition for plating into a prescribed shape, etching the resulting molded article for plating, and plating.